What is the difference between topical and expository preaching

Another reason topical preachers find their method to be superior is that they feel like topical preaching gives them the flexibility to address matters most relevant to their congregations, while expository preaching is often too academic and disconnected. Again, there is something to this, but ultimately it is overstated. Believers should become mature enough to submit to Scripture at all times.

Second, preachers in their applications can draw reasonable links to what the Bible says in their series to what is going on in their churches being careful not to stretch this to its breaking point. Sometimes, pastors just want to talk about stuff they want to or harp on things that annoy them, but expository preaching helps limit that.

If we believe the Word of God to be powerful in itself, we can be confident that it will have its effect. These two overstated points aside, there are still good reasons in support of topical preaching. Yes, it can provide flexibility to address issues in a congregation, and it also has the advantage of looking at the whole counsel of Scripture on a particular topic.

For some classes, like a doctrines class, topical is really the only way to go, and it can still have some benefits when utilized in the pulpit. Basically, there is a reason why I prefer expository preaching, and that is because it helps people come to a deeper and more accurate understanding of the Bible and does a better job avoiding illegitimate proof-texting.

Paige Patterson has stated that he believes preaching is simply helping people read the Bible better, which is a good, basic way to understand expository preaching. The accusations of being overly academic only betrays an implicit anti-intellectualism that has long plagued evangelicalism. For sure, wise preachers should not try to unload Greek syntax on their listeners in order to make themselves look smart, but a skilled teacher will do his studies and then communicate the gist of those studies in a way that is accessible.

What expository preaching enables, at least theoretically, is a deeper appreciation of context and careful handling of the text. Oftentimes, after a topical sermon, people do not walk out of the service coming away with a better understanding of Scripture. They do not know much about the context of a certain passage, who wrote it, and what the flow of thought was.

Expository sermons help them understand the Bible with depth and helps them read the Bible more carefully in their own personal readings. Practically, while topical sermons have their advantages, so do expository ones. This often includes a heavier study requirement, but it also lessens the time it takes to try to come up with something cool and new. It puts emphasis on what Scripture says rather than the charisma of the preacher, which in many ways lifts a burden on the pastor.

I think that the advantages of expository preaching, especially in this day and age of biblical ignorance, more than outweigh its inherent limitations to make it the more preferable way to preach on the pulpit.

That does not mean that I think topical sermons are wrong or useless; I think they can be very beneficial and can be interspersed throughout the year, and topical teaching is definitely useful in Sunday School and small group settings.

Since I do not view this as a right or wrong issue, I will not go out of my way to blast pastors who do not preach purely expository sermons all the dang time frankly, few celebrity pastors actually preach in this manner, even the most popular ones like Piper and Keller.

Topical preaching has more dangers than you think. In fact, they must utilize both of their strengths and work together in order to vanquish their foe. Expositional and topical preaching can be the best of partners and can work together to achieve a common goal. I would like to offer to you that preaching exegetically through books of the Bible should be your primary teaching structure.

How quickly you get through the book is up to you. You can do ground floor excursions through entire books over the course of years, or you can fly over an entire book in a matter of months. However, there are times a topical sermon or series of sermons can be beneficial. It could be helpful to teach on suffering for two weeks out of James 1. It would be beneficial to take a month and cover some of the attributes. However, just as there is a danger in overcomplicating your expositional preaching, you can exaggerate your topical preaching.

You must be aware of the dangers of forcing a text to fit the topic. Topical preaching must still be expositional preaching. As a preacher, you have a responsibility to rightly divide the Word of God. In conclusion, expositional and topical preaching can be the best of friends. Expositional preaching is by no means the easier route. Exegesis involves a process of examination by which one comes to understand a particular passage of the text.

What is the opposite of exegesis? In biblical exegesis, the opposite of exegesis to draw out is eisegesis to draw in , in the sense of an eisegetic commentator "importing" or "drawing in" his or her own purely subjective interpretations into the text, unsupported by the text itself.

Eisegesis is often used as a derogatory term. How do you write a good expository essay? When writing your expository essay, follow these eight basic steps: Select a topic: Write a thesis sentence: Select a method of development: Organize the essay: Write topic sentences for the body paragraphs of the essay: Write the body paragraphs of the essay: Furnish a paragraph of introduction:.

How do you preach? Steps Give yourself plenty of time. Start thinking of what to preach about as soon as possible. Pray and meditate. Ask God for guidance. Look for passages addressing your topic. If a topic comes to mind before an actual verse does, start looking for passages that directly talk about that topic. Start over when needed. If we do not lean upon our own understanding …there would be union of one according in our thinking and that is in the way God wants us to preach or share the message He has given us.

I want to continue to say i agree with you in that too often pastors do over look subjects; scriptures that are uncomfortable to them as well as cater to the listener rather then God. Anyone professing to be of God will be lead by God and provide all what God has said we should know. Unfortunately many do not realize or they do not heed warnings that we are not to stumble any one; we are to be courageous in our devotion to God and not traditions of man.

I encourage others to seek every word said to them including what I say this too is scripture. In these days our focus is not self but Christ and all others that all who will hear have the choice just as we to accept eternal life or eternal separation, spiritual death and punishment.

This too is the full message Jesus preach and what we should preach and what we should be focusing on; everything God has allow in the Bible was for everyone then and now; that we may be able to receive the blessing of the choice of eternal life, to believe, know, love and obey God. Before I say anything else, I want to make clear that I love both topical and expository preaching.

Yet I find as trends go and as many follow in hopes of being relevant, hip or whatever, it seems currently the trend is mostly topical. Topical solutions do not penetrate and are not long lasting.

They provide only temporary relief. Expositional or Expository preaching when done properly does not leave out or breeze past difficult verses. This is what the preacher must do! Spend the time studying and the time in prayer necessary to do it right. Just put a little topical ointment on it. Just food for thought. Your comments are not in a spirit of grace or of unity.

Scripture or your own opinion? Again, I urge you to go back to the messages that Jesus preached. Would you make that same argument with the sermon on the mount? You make very strong statements that can definitely cause division because you look down upon other methods by making assumptions. Again, what is your basis for that statement? My most humble apologies. I do not want to seem harsh. In the hopes of not being long winded I just was not clear. I did mention current trends. I made a comparison of what is currently popular to topical ointments.

Poor analogy, maybe? I see where I could have been misunderstood. Just branded my input as extra-biblical. Btw, Jesus preached expositionally each time He told a parable and then explained it afterward. I believe Haddon Robinson and Stephen Olford would agree. Whether expository or textual or topical, what is needed more is the unction of the Holy Spirit and not just reliance on yet another technique. I believe that as Christians it is important that we follow the teachings of the Bible and not the teachings of man.

I have often found that the short verses used in a topical sermon get lost amongst the lesson the preacher is teaching. Both are just methods. There are expository preachers that do the same, and focus on what they want to talk about from a passage. The bottom line is that both are just methods, and the Holy Spirit can use both. For an example, someone who has a sound knowledge of the bible may be able to follow a topical sermon and identify points that are unbiblical but it is very hard for a new or growing Christian to do the same.

Thanks for the link. He has put it nicely. I apologise if I have been too strong in my reaction. I do agree that there are preachers who string together verses to make whatever they want to make. On the other hand I have also heard really good expositors like DA Carson who can bring out so much from a passage. But there are not many like him. No method can replace bad bible study. I read the link as well, but I would disagree with his statement that topical preaching is the easiest method.

The truth is that all methods, if done correctly, take time and effort. I have seen expository preachers just pick up their Bible without preparation and just talk about their understanding of the text.

I have also seen topical preachers rant on and on about their opinion. Personally, I have found topical preaching the be the hardest to do correctly. But I also see that it serves a vital purpose within the church. The Great Commission commands us to not only teach people the Bible, but to teach them how to obey the Bible. That is an important distinction that we cannot forget. I would also disagree that expository sermons are deep and topical sermons are shallow.

Arguments like that do nothing but create division and are simply not true. But is our goal to create smart sinners, or to create people who are transformed by the power of the Gospel. I heard a pastor once say that you are only as deep as the last person you served. To that I say Amen! Both topical and expository preaching are powerful and effective especially when the Word Of God remains central. Either way these men were effective instruments in the hand of God to bring countless thousands to Christ.

The Prince of Preachers was a topical preacher. I love his sermons, and he was perhaps one of the greatest soul winners that ever lived!! I have sat in the pew thru many different preaching methods.

I have gone back and read those verses in context within the Chapter and within the books. I have found out that when used in topical preaching, the verses impact gets diluted from its original intrention.

In expository approach, you cannot do that. The most faithfully closed the Word of God is the expounding of the Word. Every word breath by God , every word of the Bible needs to be properly handled with all the honour it is deserved.

Let us not cheapen it and bring the full councel of God to the sheep which was purchased with our Saviours blood. I have also sat through expository sermons that completely misinterpreted the text. We cannot take our experiences and make them the normative for other believers. There is room in the Kingdom of God for more than one style, especially when styles are not prescribed in the Bible.

I think we should read Nehemiah